The Buxaceae or box family is a small one with about 120 species in 4-5 genera and is widely scattered in tropical, subtropical and temperate areas but centered primarily in eastern Asia and in parts of Central America and the Caribbean. It appears to be in the order Buxales, a small order containing only one other family. Comprised mainly of evergreen shrubs and smallish trees, the leaves are simple and estipulate, and often leathery. The flowers are radially symmetrical in axillary or terminal spikes, racemes or clusters. The fruits are either loculicidal capsules or drupes with black, shiny seeds. Box shrubs are widely grown mostly as ornamentals for landscape use as hedging and other family members as a ground cover. The hard dense wood of some species has been utilized for carving and inlaying furniture. Buxus was the classical Latin name used for the box shrub by Pliny.